when you feel all alone and the world has turned its back on you;

[moralperil]

Date & Time: 10/13, 2pm
Location: Cafeteria
Characters: Mahdi (moralperil), Asbel Lhant (pactfulfilled)
Summary: Mahdi offered help and an ear to listen to anyone who might need it. Asbel has a friend who needs help.
Warnings: I'm guessing there will be some angst, will add warnings as necessary

[Mahdi frowns into a cup of coffee.

The night before started off incredibly pleasant and then got a little weird, but pleasant in its own way. The end result, however, was a little less sleep than Mahdi really needed, and after weeks with that same problem, it's starting to show.

So. Coffee. Really bad coffee.

Mahdi is wearing a floral, knee-length dress - something pleasant and colorful borrowed from Ahiru, dark hair back in a neat braid. Mahdi is early, tends to be when it's a 'work' thing, just in case.

Tapping one sneakered foot against the leg of the chair, Mahdi debates if more sugar will make the situation better or worse.]

Comments

I'm so sorry for the delay. OTL

[pactfulfilled]

[Asbel arrives pretty much right on the dot. Having returned from a mission aka shopping trip a few days ago (more like a shopping brawl, he'd say), his attire is a bit more practical than usual. Dark green jacket, black denim jeans. Nothing flashy.]

[Though he's a bit worn out from the whole ordeal, and has vowed off department stores for the rest of his life (he hopes), he still manages a smile as he approaches the table.]

Hey there. You must be Mahdi, right?

no worries!

[moralperil]

That's me! [Mahdi stands up, smoothing the skirt before offering a handshake.] Which must make you Asbel, right? Did you want some coffee? The water's hot, I could make you tea or I bet we could scare up some cocoa...

[pactfulfilled]

Yeah, you got it. [He accepts Mahdi's hand with the firm, polite shake of someone who does this on a regular basis.]

Uh, sure! Tea sounds good, if you don't mind. By the way, thanks for taking the time to meet me like this. I know things have got to be pretty crazy for you right now, too.

[moralperil]

It's not a problem, really! Since my abilities aren't helpful in an um, conventional sense, it honestly gives me some satisfaction to know I could help in some other way.

[Mahdi wanders over to the stove, where there is steaming hot water still in a kettle. Then it's a matter of finding a tea bag and a cup...]

So, you said your friend had a problem, right? Needed some cheering up?

[pactfulfilled]

[Asbel smiles. He can understand the feeling, even with comparatively ordinary abilities.] Fair enough.

[Taking a seat at the table, he silently vows to help with cleaning up later.]

Yeah, something like that, I guess? This person usually takes things in stride, and he has this manner about him that sometimes borders on obnoxious. But... It was right before we came up here. He apologized, then told me he was always causing trouble for people around him and that maybe the whole thing was his fault.

He just laughed it off afterwards and said the pressure must've been getting to him, but I've never really forgotten.

[moralperil]

It sounds like your friend really opened up to you. [Mahdi remarks thoughtfully, leaning on the counter and watching the tea steep.] You're worried about that? Like maybe he's acting that way to cover his real feelings?

[pactfulfilled]

[Asbel's open hands curl into loose fists as he considers.] Maybe? Because, that's just it. He doesn't really share a whole lot about himself, so it was weird hearing him talk like that. I don't know if he even meant to in the first place.

[moralperil]

Do you think he would lie about something like that? It seems to me like he was probably being more honest than usual, and for whatever reason, he feels he can't continue to be that honest.

That's just my guess. I don't know your friend, or the situation.

But I think a lot of people start falling into a specific pattern, a role, when they're under stress. And sometimes they hold onto it even if it's a terrible lie, because it's the only way they know how to manage.

[Mahdi eyes the tea, as if that might make it steep faster.]

[pactfulfilled]

No...I think the apology was sincere.

[Asbel stares at the table. This is all a little difficult for him to wrap his head around. A role? Maybe...? But if Mahdi's theory is true, then why did he feel the need to cover them up right after revealing them? Was is something Asbel did or said?]

When we evacuated Exsilium, I was lost. But I also felt like I needed to be strong for everyone else, like I needed to be doing anything and everything I could to help. But even then, it didn't seem like enough, and it just...couldn't be short of saving everyone.

Maybe he was feeling something like that? Maybe he didn't know what to do either.

[moralperil]

Grief is different for everyone. Especially for something like this, where there's this huge sense of helplessness against it. It's new for a lot of you strong types, isn't it? [Mahdi smiles.]

When something big like this happens, sometimes people want to reevaluate their lives. You think about all those people whose souls moved on, and what regrets they might've had in this lifetime, and maybe you think of your regrets too.

Cream or sugar?

[pactfulfilled]

Yeah. I wouldn't exactly say it's new, but I'm not sure all of us were prepared to handle it. I've...

[Asbel's voice trails off.] I've never felt as if I failed so many people before.

[People's regrets, huh? Honestly he doesn't want to think too hard about that. It'll just make him feel awful all over again. Besides, he's here to figure out something he can do for Kaneis - not himself. He shakes his head lightly.]

Oh. Um, just a little cream is fine. Thank you.

What about you, though? [Maybe he's looking for examples, and maybe he's just curious.] If you don't mind talking about it, I mean. How did you manage to deal with all of this? Is that why you offered your services to everyone?

[moralperil]

I don't feel like I have dealt with it, honestly. [Mahdi says with a shrug, retrieving a little milk from the fridge to cool the steaming drink.] Exsilium has been my home for over a year, but Earth is not my home, and it isn't where I'm from.

I live to observe and assist humanity, and part of that is accepting that humanity will take paths that I find tragic, even upsetting.

I also know that the souls of those lost will be cared for and reborn. These things happen. I can't control it at all, so I'll do what I can to help individuals, if I can't change the course people take on my own.